Mechanical stoker



C. C. LODER.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1917.

1,329,617. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI l.

C. C. LODER.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, I917.

1,329,617 Patented F61). 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

win/Mama): I 6% C. C. LODER.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1917.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

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C: E z: E E z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. LODER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO'WILLIAM P. ANDERSON AND ONE-THIRD TO RICHARD K. LEBLONID, BOTH 0F CINCINNATI,

OHIO.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed June 30, 1917. Serial No. 177,985.

Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Stokers, of which the following is a specification.

An ob'ect of my invention isto produce a mechanical stoker in which improved means are employed for agitating the coal, to prevent caking thereof and for feeding it across the grates.

A further object is to produce a mechanical stoker in which improved means are employed for controlling the movements of the various elements to regulate the feed of the coal and thereby to control the intensity of the fire.

A further object is to produce a stoker which requires less power to operate the elements thereof and in which the operation is more steady and uniform than other stokers known to me.

A further object is to produce a stoker in which an improved means for controlling the supply of air to the furnace simultaneously with the control of the supply of fuel thereto is provided.

These and other objects are attained in the stoker described in the following specifica tion and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

stoker embodying my invention, the fuel hopper being removed to disclose certain portions of the construction which would be hidden thereby.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation of the actuating mechanism of my improved stoker.

My improved stoker consists of a fuel feedmg mechanism 6, a series of stationary grate bars 7 located on each side of the fuel feeding mechanism, a fuel agitating mechanism 8 adapted to cooperate with the grate bars in the combustion of the fuel, a mechanism 9 for operating the fuel agitatingv mechanismya clinker crushing mechanism 10 located on each side of the grate bars 7,

and an air feeding mechanism 11 controllable from the front of the boiler setting for furnishing the required amount of air to the 1:guel to aid its combustion upon the grate ars. 1

Fuel feeding mechanism 6 consists of a hopper 12 adapted to contain the fuel to be placed upon the grate bars, and a steam cylinder 13 containing a piston and piston rod 14 adapted to actuate a fuel pusher or plunger 15 located within the hollow casing 16 secured to the front of the boiler setting. Plunger 15 is adapted to be withdrawn by piston rod 14 to permit a charge of fuel to fall into position in front of it. Upon forward movement 'of plunger 15 the fuel located in front of it is pushed into a trough 17 which is substantially V-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 3. Passing longitudinally through the trough from one end to the opposite end thereof is a rod 18- upon which a series of auxiliary fuel pushers 19 are mounted. These pushers are provided with somewhat abrupt front faces to facilit'ate the movement of the fuel from the front to the rear end of the trough and their rear ends are made with a decided incline to permit them to pass beneath the fuel in the trough upon their return movement, so that the fuel rides over the pushers and drops into position back of them ready to be pushed through the trough toward the back thereof. Rod 18 is directly connected with piston rod 14: by means of a link 20 which is adjustably connected with an arm 21 extending downwardly from piston rod 14. Adjustable connection of link 20with extension 21 is provided by means of a pin 22 removably mounted in a series of openings 23 formed in the link. An accumulation of fuel in trough 17 causes the fuel 'to overflow the upper edges of the trough and on to the grate bars 7.

Grate bars 7 are secured to the edges of trough 17 by hooked extensions 24 which are:

held in position with relation to the trough by means of a plate 25 secured to the trough as disclosed in Fig. 3. The outer lower ends of the grate bars rest upon the upper edge of plates 26 which extend longitudinally of each side of the stoker frame and which rest at their ends in front and back plates 27 and 28 of the stoker frame. The grate consists of alternately arranged sets of bars 7 and 7 bars 7 containing openings through which are projected fuel pushers 29 and fuel stops 30. The series of pushers 29 constltute a fuel distributing mechanism. Bars 7 are provided with openings adjacent to the trough, through which are adapted to be projected fuel agitators 31. The mechanlsm for operating agitators-31, pushers 29 and stops 30 consists of a series of arms 32, 33

and 34 connected with these respective ele-. .ments and which are secured to the respective shafts 35, 36. and 37 which extend longitudinally of the furnace and journaled in front and back plates 27 and 28. Shafts 37 are adapted to be operated manually, being provided with squared ends 38 upon which suitable operating handles may be placed to cause stops 30 to be pro ected upwardly to stop the motion of the fuel when desired.

I Shafts and 36 are however, connected 41 and 42 a pair of springs 47 are located for the purpose ofmaintaining the hooked ends of the bell cranks in engagement with arms 39 and 40. The upper outwardly extending arms of the bell cranks are adapted to be engaged by adjustable stops 48 and 49 which are provided for the purpose of tripping levers 39 and 40 at predetermined intervals of operation of the mechanism to permit agitators 31 and pushers 29 to return to their normal positions. 'Each of the upper outwardly extending arms of the bell cranks 41 and 42 isprov'ided with a tooth 50 adapted to be engaged by the ends of a pair of pawls 51 and 52 pivotally mounted at points 53 and 54 on reciprocating plates 45. These pawls are for the purpose of disconnecting any desired element of the stoker from operative connection with the actuating mechanism. At the upper ends of the plates 45 lugs 55 and 56 are formed, pins 57 being located between these lugs and having the rear ends of bent levers 58 normally in engagement therewith. i- Each of levers 58 is pivoted at a point 59 located at the side of casing 16 of the fuel feeding mechanism.

The-forward ends of levers 58 are upturned- I as disclosed in Fig. 5, and are adapted to be engaged by rollers 60 mounted on pins 61 extending from the sides of the pistonrod. Thus when pistonrod '14 is retracted to permit fresh fuel to fall from hopper 12, levers 58 are rocked upon their pivots 59 to elevate plates 45 and thus cause operation of fuel agitators 31 and fuel pushers 29 through their connected elements 41, 42, 39, 40, 35, se, 32 and33. o

The clinker crushing mechanism located on each side at the outer ends of the grate bars, consists of a shaft 62 extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the furnace, journaled in plates 27 and 28 and extending beyond the front plate of the boiler mounting. Each of these shaft has a ratchet 63 mounted at its forward end for coiiperation with pawl 64 mounted upon a lever 65 extendi'ng'toward plate 45 and connected therewith by means of a pin 66 mounted on the plate. Each shaft 62 is provided with a series of clinker crushing drums 67 which are secured to the shaft and are interlocked with each other as disclosed at 68 in Fig. 4. Adjacent to the drums a series of cooperating plates 69 are provided. These plates are hooked over a bar 7 0 embedded in each of the side walls of the brick setting of the boiler in such a manner as to pivot therewith. Back of each of these plates is a cam 71 mounted upon a shaft 72 extending longitudinally of the furnace and beyond the front plate of the boiler mounting as shown in Figs. 1 and '4, so that a crank handle may be applied to the squared end 73 thereof for the purpose of adjusting the positions ofplates 69 with relation to the clinker crushing drums 67.

' The air regulating mechanism of my improved stoker consists of an air conduit 74 having an outlet 75 located on each side of the back Wall of the stoker and having itsend opening upward as disclosed in Fig. 2.

Eachoutlet is closed by a door 7 6 which is.

hinged at a point 77 to the back plate 28 of the stoker so that the door will close the opening tightly. Connected with each door is the end of a chain or cable 7 8 which passes over a pulley 79 secured to the rear plate 28 and which extends toward the front ofthe stoker, through plate 27 and the front boiler setting plate at a point 80, the forward end of the cable passing over another pulley at this point and an additional pulley 81 at a convenient point adjacent to the hopper 12. This end of each cable is connected to a pin 82 adjustably mountedin a slide 83 secured to the front plate of the boiler setting; By this means the degree of opening of each door 7 6 may be regulated from 'the front bf the boiler.

My improved stoker, as has previously been described, is arranged in two sections, each of which may be rendered 0 erative or inoperative by the pawls 51 an 52 at the front of the stoker. This is convenient in many ways and for the purpose of still fur may be idle, thus ermitting of repairs and other adjustments eing made on one side of the stoker without having to stop the operation of the opposite side thereof. In the front plate 27 a door 85 is located on each side of the partition to communicate with the ash pit. In Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the front plate of the boiler setting does not extend to the floor but is supported in such a manner that suificient space is between it and the floor to permit of doors 85 being opened to allow ashes to be removed and workmen to enter the ash pit. On each side of the ash pit the spaces beneath the crushing mechanisms are open to permit of the crushed clinkers being removed readily. Regulation fire doors 86 are provided for affording access to the grates should manual firing have to be restorted to and also for observation of the condition of the fuel beds located on the grates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. A mechanical stoker comprising a fuel feeding mechanism consisting of a hopper, a trough communicating with the hopper, a main fuel pusher located in the trough adj acent to the hopper, and a series of auxiliary fuel pushers located in the trough, a fuel agitating mechanism consisting of a series of grate bars, and a series of agitators adapted to be projected through the grate bars and into engagement with the fuel located on the bars, a clinker crushing mechanism, and means adapted to operate the fuel feeding mechanism in alternation with the fuel agitating and clinker crushing mechanisms, said mechanisms being arranged to operate upon the fuel in substantially the order named.

2. In a mechanical stoker the combination of a centrally located feed trough, grate bars upon opposite sides of the trough, a partition located beneath the trough and dividing the space beneath it and the grate bars into two com artments, a set of agitators projecting t rough each set of grate bars, mechanism upon each side of the part1- tion adapted to" actuate the agitators, air conduits communicating with each of the compartments, means in'operative connection with each of the conduits for controlling the flowof air therethrough, and means for rendering either set of agitators inopera tive, whereby the air may be cut off from one set of grate bars at the same time that the agitators therefor are rendered inoperative.

3. A mechanical stoker comprising a fuel feeding mechanism consisting of a hopper, a trough communicating with the hop er, a main fuel usher located in the troug adjacent to t e hopper, a series of auxiliary fuel pushers located in the trough, a fuel agitating mechanism, a clinker crushing mechanism consisting of a rotativel mounted crushin drum, and an adjusta le plate mounted a jacent thereto, and means adapted to cause the fuel feeding mechanism to operate upon the fuel in alternation with the fuel agitating and clinker crushing mechanisms.

4. A mechanical stoker comprising a fuel feeding mechanism, a fuel agitating mechanism consisting of a series of grate bars, and a series of agitators adapted to be projected through the grate bars and into engagement with the fuel located on the bars, a clinker crushing mechanism consisting of a rotatively mounted crushing drum and an adjustable plate mounted adjacent thereto, and means adapted to cause the fuel feeding mechanism to operate upon the fuel in alternation with the fuel agitating and clinker crushing mechanisms.

5. A mechanical stoker comprising a fuel feeding mechanism consisting of a hopper, a trough communicating with the hopper, a main fuel pusher located in the trough adjacent to the hopper, and a series of auxiliary fuel ushers located in the trough, a fuel agitating mechanism consisting of a series of rate bars, and a series of agitators adaptecl to be projected from the grate bars and into engagement with the fuel located on the bars, a clinker crushing mechanism consisting of a rotatively mounted crushing drum and an adjustable plate mounted adjacent thereto, and means adapted to cause the fuel feeding mechanism to operate upon the fuel in alternation with the fuel agitating mechanism and the clinker crushing mechanism.

6. A mechanical stoker comprising a fuel feeding trough, a set of grate bars located on each side of the trough and having their ends adjacent to the trough supported by the edges thereof, the opposite ends of the bars being lower than the trough-engaging ends, a partition located beneath the troug and divlding the space beneath the trough and grate bars into two longitudinally extending compartments, Walls heated-at the In testimony whereof, I have hereuhto lower ends of the grate bars, adapted. to supsubscribed my name this 28th day of June, port the bars at these ends, and a series of 1917.

fuel stops located at the lower ends of the CHARLES C. LODER. 5 bars, adapted to stop the passage of fuel Witnesses:

over the bars, and manually operated means WALTER F. MURRAY,

adapted to operatethe fuel stops. W; THORNTON BOGERT. 

